Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1943. THE TASK IN TUNISIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1943. THE TASK IN TUNISIA

QN his return to Cairo after his visit to Turkey—a visit which definitely emphasises in itself tile extent to which the Middle East and Mediterranean situation has been changed for the better in the last five months —Mr Churchill made a passing reference to the campaign in Tunisia which is worth noting. He gave a "warning, we are told, that we were in for a very considerable amount of fighting in Tunisia, but said he had confidence in the results.

Coming as it does from a "war leader who has at all times set his face sternly against easy optimism, this observation should offset effectively some gloomy accounts of the position and outlook in Tunisia that have been transmitted of late. For instance a dispatch received yesterday from a correspondent at Allied headquarters in North Africa "was a rather depressing catalogue of advantages said to be possessed by the Germans and of more or less overwhelming difficulties faced by the Allies.

As a detail it may be noted that this correspondent said that one of the Allies’ biggest tasks "would be to knock out the new heavy tanks (the 62-ton “Tigers”) which have recently made their first appearance in Tunisia. Another message yesterday, however, reported that in the preliminary fighting that has thus far taken place two of these heavily armoured monsters have already been knocked out by British guns.

The correspondent spoke portentously of excellent defensive' positions built by the Germans and manned by erack troops, with much more to a similar effect. It should not be forgotten, however, that an important part of the defence of Tunisia is being entrusted to Rommel’s remnants, the troops "whom the Eighth Army only three months ago blasted and hurled out of immensely strong positions at El Alamein, and has since chased over a distance of some 1,600 miles.

As against pessimistic estimates of the outlook, General Giraucl, an able and experienced soldier, has expressed an opinion that the Germans in North Africa will very soon have only two courses—evacuation or capitulation —and that the British and American strength before long will be overwhelming. Even the layman may see that there is much to support, this hopeful view. The enemy has short lines of communication with Sicily, and meantime holds the best of the Tunisian aerodromes. Nevertheless he is being outclassed heavily in the air and his supply services are being cut to pieces by Allied sea and air attacks.

The principal danger to be feared in Tunisia perhaps is that the enemy may be able to extend a delaying campaign to the point of prejudicing and hampering Allied offensive action in Europe in concert with Russia. It is rather soon, however, to assume that events are likely to take this course. An attempt by the Germans to hold a front of some 250 miles, running south from Bizerta to the Mareth Line, is likely from the outset to impose a heavy tax on their resources. Meantime, with Tripoli now in its hands as a base of supply, the veteran and well-tried Eighth Army is making rapid headway towards the Mareth Line and undoubtedly will play its full part in conjunction with the British, American and French forces attacking from the west. With the improvement in the weather which is due shortly, events in Tunisia may move rapidly and in a manner anything but agreeable to the Germans.